Desert Safari from Dubai: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ
Sip sheesha under stars, enjoy live dance shows, and capture moments in traditional attire
A desert safari from Dubai combines dune bashing in a 4x4 across the Awir desert with a camel ride, sandboarding, and an evening at a Bedouin-style camp. You get picked up from your hotel or location in Dubai or Sharjah, travel with an English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned vehicle, and return after six to seven hours. The day includes a buffet dinner, live entertainment (dancing, Tanoura and fire shows), henna painting, Arabic costume photos, and unlimited tea and coffee.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Desert safari with activities and camping
- Pickup from Dubai or Sharjah
- Quad bike and buggy rides
- Dune bashing in Awir desert
- Camping in the desert
What’s included
- Pickup and dropoff from your Dubai or Sharjah location in an air-conditioned 4x4.
- dune bashing in the Awir desert.
- camel ride.
- sandboarding with boards provided.
- buffet dinner.
- live entertainment (dancing, Tanoura and fire shows).
- henna painting for women and children.
- Arabic costume rental for photos.
- sheesha at the designated bar area.
- unlimited tea, coffee and soft drinks.
- English-speaking guide throughout.
Times
- Every day 14:00
Before you book
Operated by Dubai Desert Safari Tours
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
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The experience
The day starts with door-to-door pickup from anywhere in Dubai or Sharjah in a clean, air-conditioned 4x4. Your guide meets you with real-time WhatsApp updates so you know exactly when to expect them. The drive takes you into the Awir desert, where the vehicle hits the dunes at speed: dune bashing is the core of the experience, and the 4x4 does the work while you sit inside. The ride is fast enough to feel it, but the vehicle's suspension and the guide's experience keep it controlled.
Once at the desert camp, you move through the activities at your own pace. A camel ride lets you sit high above the sand the way traders once did. Sandboarding happens on the dunes nearby, with boards provided. Henna painting is available for women and children, and staff can dress you in traditional Arabic costumes for photographs. Sheesha (water pipe) is available in a designated area of the camp. As the sun sets, the buffet dinner is served (a spread of grilled meat, rice, salads and bread), and the live shows begin: dancers, the spinning Tanoura performance, and fire performers. Tea, coffee and soft drinks flow throughout.
The tour runs six to seven hours total, with pickup and dropoff included. Private and group options are available. If you book the quad bike option, you can add that ride to your day instead of or alongside the standard safari. A live English-speaking guide stays with the group, and the operator offers 24/7 support before and after your booking.
Is this one for you?Book the standard desert safari if you want the full range of activities (dune bashing, camel, sandboarding and camp dinner) in one outing. If you prefer to add quad biking instead, that option is available at checkout and swaps in for the standard package.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What is dune bashing like in the 4x4?
Dune bashing is high-speed driving across the desert dunes in the 4x4 vehicle. The driver accelerates up and down the sand slopes, creating a thrilling ride with plenty of movement. It is the signature part of the safari and takes up a significant portion of the time in the desert.
Can I do the camel ride and sandboarding on the same day?
Yes. Both activities happen at the desert camp after dune bashing, and you move between them at your own pace. The camel ride and sandboarding are both included in the standard safari package.
What time does the tour start and end?
Pickup happens at your hotel or location in Dubai or Sharjah at a time arranged when you book. The full experience runs six to seven hours, and you are dropped back at your starting point afterward.
Is the buffet dinner included?
Yes. A buffet dinner with grilled meat, rice, salads and bread is served at the desert camp, along with unlimited tea, coffee and soft drinks throughout the day.
What are the live shows at the camp?
The camp features live entertainment including traditional dancing, the Tanoura (a spinning skirt performance), and fire shows. These happen in the evening after dinner.
Desert Safari from Dubai: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ
6h–7h · EN · at your hotel
from AED 99 per person
≈ US$ 28 in your currency
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